Central
to the Ayurvedic understanding of digestion is the
strength of this digestive fire, called agni.
Composed of various acids and enzymes, agni
is seated within the lower stomach and small intestine
and relates to Pitta dosha.
Ayurveda refers to an individual’s overall
digestive capabilities in relation to agni (“Her
agni is balanced,” for example). While it’s
common to use the terms agni and “digestive
fire” interchangeably, there are in fact a total
of 13 different agnis governing all metabolic functions
of the body. Any process involving heat, light, transformation,
and conversion relates to agni. On a universal scale,
agni is the creative flame of intelligence that is
present in all life.
After an individual’s current doshic state,
agni is the most important factor in determining dietary
needs. It‘s a readily observable fact that we
all digest food differently. One individual may gleam
with satisfaction after a meal, while another person
may clutch his stomach in agony after eating the exact
same thing. For this reason, terms like “iron
stomach” and “eating like a bird”
have become everyday terms.
Common ways agni becomes weak or aggravated include:
eating out of accordance with one’s constitution,
habitually eating the same foods, overeating, eating
tasteless foods, drinking too much water with meals,
staying up late, eating at irregular times, and resisting
the urge to eat, and not exercising enough. |